Class of 1979

John and Susan Johnson Beaman still enjoy life along the “beautiful coast of Maine.”… Tom Connolly got an unexpected gift for Christmas in 2003 — from President Bush. The computer-autographed color photo thanked him for his early commitment to Bush’s reelection campaign. The ironic thing is, Tom is the person who, during the 2000 campaign, infamously exposed to the media Bush’s 1976 arrest for drunk driving in Maine. In the three years since, he’s suffered retaliation, according to Portland Press Herald columnist Bill Nemitz: death threats (via mail and phone), two physical assaults, a smashed car window, a pickup load of foam peanuts on his lawn, and a truckload of garbage strewn everywhere on his property. Bogus accident reports in three states claiming he failed to show proof of insurance led to his license to drive in those states being suspended. In one accident, he supposedly hit Caroline Kennedy; in another, he hit Amy Carter. He started receiving 300 magazines a day, to which he had not subscribed, and then mail-order shipments. No word yet on who Tom will support in 2004…. As an attorney with Pierce Atwood and former chief operating officer for American Skiing, Christopher Howard was involved in securing a conditional harness racing license for Penn National Gaming that may let the company install slot machines in Bangor…. Bob McCauley announces the publication of his novel of political intrigue, All Enemies. Information about the book may be found at www.trainwriter.com…. After four winless seasons, first-year head coach Dan O’Connell led the football team at Bangor’s John Bapst Memorial High School to three wins last season.